The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-02-05
AFRAID OF GOD.

do not believe we ought ever to be
afraid Of God. The prophet jeremiah
said, 30 Lord, grant that 1 be not
afraid of thee" On this point the New
Testament is clear. One passage says,
"We have not received the spirit of
bondage again to fear, but we have re-
ceived the spirit of adoption, whereby
We cry Abba, Father!' And the apos-
tie John says, ''There is no fear in love,
but perfect love casts out fear" and
adds that, as long as we fear, 1--WE are
not made perfect in love-"
No doubt, in many things we cannot
understand the reason of the Divine ac-
ton. The course of Providence often
seems to us unintelligible. The good
suffer, the bad succeed; falsehood tri-
umphs, truth is defeated. Why are we
surrounded by temptations Why are
the innocent suffered to fall into sin !?
Why do those whose hearts are hard,
cold, and worldly live on, while the gen.
erous, the wise, the noble, are taken
away? These are mysteries in life in
solvable now, only to be resolved in a
higher world. A wise teacher will often
put difficult questions to his pupils,
which they are unable to answer at
first. But he intends that they shall
find the solution at last. God teaches
us in the same way. We are now only
little children, learning the Alphabet
Of knowledge; hereafter we may come
to read and understand the Book. The
spirit of Christianity from the begin
ming has been a spirit Of intelligence.
1t came to lead men into truth, to un-
seal the blind eyes. 1t was no obscure
or mystical theosophy, but revelation.
1t was God manifest in the flesh. 1t
was manifestation of Divine truth
and Divine love in the character of
Christ.
A wise man fears evil, and a good
man fears sin. A wise man, in bus
mess, is cautious, careful, but not timid.
He watches against the risks of trade,
the dangers of business operations; but
he does not live in spirit of fear, but
of courage and hope. In like manner,
a good man is well aware of his own
weakness, of the power of temptation.
He knows that though the spirit is
willing, the flesh is weak. The apostle
Paul knew that though he had taught
Others to be good, he himself might be-
come castaway. Nevertheless, he
tells us that God had not given him a
spirit of fear. He had fear enough to
make him watchful, but enough of faith
to fill his soul with courage and hope.
He feared God, but he was not afraid
of him.
False religion fears the light, Is timid,
is afraid that if the mind is left free to
think it will fall into dangerous error.
1t would prevent discussion, limit the
freedom of the press, keep men ignorant
in order that they may remain pious.
But true religion has such faith in the
power of truth and the soul Of man,
that it opens wide the gate of knowledge
to all; sure that, in the long run, this
Is the best way to hasten the time when
the earth shall be full of the knowledge
IF God.
The spirit of fear, in false religion,
,auses weakness; the spirit of faith, in
rue religion, is a source OF strength.
Gods will is not wilfulness, but hid
len wisdom. His government is not
iespotic, but holy, just, and good. God
ioes not wish us to be afraid of him,
,ut to trust in him. He does not drive |
is from sin by the fear of hell, but "the |
goodness of God leads to repentance"
Req, James Freeman Clarke.